~ Natural Cough Sore Throat Remedy ~

This post is part of the Home Remedies Carnival at Keeper of the Home

As cold season draws closer I make sure I have three things stocked in my fridge and pantry. Raw honey, fresh lemons, and garlic.

Raw Honey is antiseptic, antibiotic, antifungal, and antibacterial -- it never spoils. See the little flecks in the honey, that is all the raw goodness. When you buy honey at the store it has been heat treated(pasteurized) to make it clear and pourable. The problem is now you have a dead honey that has no life giving properties left.

 
  Eight Health Benefits of Honey
 1. Taking organic raw honey is a healthy way to get an energy boost. Its carbohydrates supply us with energy and strength. It can boost your endurance and reduce muscle fatigue.

 2. Honey is a great aid in relieving morning sickness, reportedly even more effective than traditional soda crackers. It’s also good for sore throats including laryngitis and pharyngitis.

 3. Honey and cinnamon can help in many areas including relief from bladder infections, arthritis, upset stomach and bad breath. It’s even supposed to be able to slow down hair loss.

 4. Raw honey can be used as a medication for men with problems of impotence and women with problems related to infertility. Warm raw goat milk and raw honey is believed to increase sperm count considerably.

 5. A salve made of honey, for diabetic ulcers, has been proven effective when other topical antibiotics are not well tolerated. It can be applied to eczema, canker sores or bleeding gums.

 6. Honey and apple cider vinegar can be used for many ailments like stomach aches, constipation and even migraines.

 7. Honey and lemon goes to work in the body shifting the extra fat stores, thus making it usable energy for regular body functions. And, honey is cholesterol-free. It reportedly can even help to keep cholesterol levels in check

 8. Raw honey has a viscous texture due to its low water content. It also establishes a poor environment for bad bacteria to grow, and is a good natural preservative. Lemons have a hot and dry quality which is the opposite of a cold. It cuts and dissolves phlegm, making it a great agent against the cold and flu. It also alleviates chest congestion and eases coughing fits. Lemon also fights headaches and is a diuretic, helping to flush out your system and those nasty cold and flu bugs.

Garlic is hot in nature and its moisture quality also helps it dissolve and break down phlegm in the throat and chest. Garlic is a broad spectrum antibiotic with powerful antibacterial properties. The active component in garlic is the sulfur compound called allicin. Allicin is the chemical produced when garlic is chopped, chewed, or bruised. Allicin is quite powerful as an antibiotic and a potent agent that helps the body to inhibit the ability of germs to grow and reproduce. In fact, it's said that 1 milligram of allicin has a potency of 15 standard units of penicillin. Cough Syrup Mix 1 Tbsp of fresh lemon juice, 1 tbsp of raw honey, and 1 to 3 cloves of grated garlic, according to what you can tolerate. If making this for children, start with one clove. Keep in a covered jar in the fridge. Use when ever a sore throat presents itself or at the first signs of cold symptoms. We love to add this to Peppermint or Wild Cherry Bark tea. Both can sooth a sore throat immensely. I have also made this using ginger in place of the garlic and adding ginger in with the garlic. The extra heat will draw out the cold. If we are going to be out and about in one place for an extended period of time them I will give this in advance. Garlic works best at preventing a cold or being consumed right as symptoms begin to show.